The Organization was established in December
1951 and began its operations in early 1952
as the Intergovernmental Committee for
European Migration. Its Constitution was
adopted on 19 October 1953 and came into
force on 30 November 1954. Amendments were
made to the Constitution, effective 14
November 1989, and the Organization was
renamed the International Organization for
Migration. The Organization possesses full
juridical personality and has its
Headquarters in Geneva. It currently has 165
Member States.

The Organization's organs are the Council,
the Executive Committee and the
Administration.

The Council

The Council, on which each Member State has
one representative and one vote, is the
highest authority and determines IOM
policies.

The Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance (SCPF) is open
to the entire membership and
normally meets twice a year to examine and
review policies, programmes and activities
and to discuss budgetary and financial
matters.

The Administration

The Administration, which comprises a
Director General, a Deputy Director General
and such staff as the Council may determine,
is responsible for administering and
managing the Organization in accordance with
the Constitution and the policies and
decisions of the Council and the Executive
Committee. The Director General, who is the
Organization's highest executive official,
and the Deputy Director General are
independently elected by the Council for a
period of five (5) years.